Personal Hygiene Device

ABSTRACT

A personal hygiene device for use by a person having a stomach area and a back area. The device comprises a body comprising a first arm portion, a central body portion, and a second arm portion. The first and second arm portions extend outward from the central body portion. The first arm portion is spaced apart from the second arm portion so the body may fit substantially about the stomach area and back area of the person. Each of the first and second arm portions comprise an end portion. The device further comprises a first cleaning member engaged with the end portion of the first arm portion. The device further comprises a second cleaning member engaged with the end portion of the second arm portion. The second cleaning member substantially faces the first cleaning member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to and is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/792,244 filed onFeb. 16, 2020, now pending, that claims the benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/806,981 filed on Feb.18, 2019, now expired, both of which are hereby incorporated into thisspecification by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many devices exist that allow a person to scrub or otherwise clean hisor her body. However, such conventional devices have severaldisadvantages. By way of example, such conventional devices cannot cleantwo areas of the person's body at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a personal hygiene device for use by a personto clean or otherwise attend to his or her stomach area and back area.The device comprises a body comprising a first arm portion, a centralbody portion, and a second arm portion. The first and second armportions extend outward from the central body portion. The first armportion is spaced apart from the second arm portion so the body may fitsubstantially about the stomach area and back area of the person. Eachof the first and second arm portions comprise an end portion. The devicefurther comprises a first cleaning member engaged with the end portionof the first arm portion. The device further comprises a second cleaningmember engaged with the end portion of the second arm portion. Thesecond cleaning member substantially faces the first cleaning member.The device according to the present invention provides significantadvantages over conventional devices. By way of example, the deviceaccording to the present invention provides easier mobility to washdifferent part's of a person's the same time such as back and stomach,legs, and neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention will be more fully understoodwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to afirst embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members inthe form of bristle brushes.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the personal hygiene device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to asecond embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members inthe form of sponge brushes.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the personal hygiene device according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the personal hygiene device according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to athird embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members inthe form of fabric mesh brushes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is a personal hygienedevice 10 that may be used by a person to wash, clean and/or scrub twoareas of the person's body at the same time such as the stomach and backarea or a single area if desired. In the embodiment shown, device 10generally comprises a body 12 comprising a first arm portion 14, acentral body portion 16, and a second arm portion 18. First and secondarm portions 14 and 18 extend outward from central body portion 16 in asubstantially u-shaped manner. First arm portion 14 is moveable orflexible relative to second arm portion 18. First arm portion 14 isspaced apart from second arm portion 18 so body 12 can fit substantiallyabout the stomach area of a person. First arm portion 14 has an endportion 15. Second arm portion 18 has an end portion 19. Body 12 may bemade from one or more pieces and from a variety of materials. In theembodiment shown, body 12 is a single tube made from plastic that may befabricated by conventional processes. Device 10 further comprises afirst cleaning member 20 engaged or connected with end portion 15 offirst arm portion 14 by a threaded cavity in first cleaning member 20(not shown) adapted to receive threads of end portion 15 (not shown).Device 10 further comprises a second cleaning member 22 engaged orconnected with end portion 19 of second arm portion 18 by a threadedcavity in second cleaning member 22 (not shown) adapted to receivethreads of end portion 19 (not shown). First cleaning member 20substantially faces second cleaning member 22. In the shown embodimentshown, each of first and second cleaning members 20 and 22 are brushes24 having a plurality of bristles 26. A wide variety of other types ofcleaning members may be used such as a sponge brush, a fabric mesh brushor any other previously developed or futurely developed cleaning member.Although not show, first cleaning member 20 may be one type of cleaningmember, such as a textile fabric, while second cleaning member 22 may bea different type of cleaning member such as a brush. Although not shown,one or more gripping members, such as cushions, could be attached tocentral portion 16 of body 12 to allow a person to grip and manipulatedevice 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5 , where a personal hygiene device 100 accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Device 100comprises a body 102 comprising a first arm 104, a central body 118, anda second arm 124. First and second arms 104 and 124 extend outward fromcentral body 118 in a substantially u-shaped manner. Central body 118comprises first and second end portions 120 and 122. Central body 118 ismade from plastic or any other conventional material and fabricated byconventional methods such as injection molding. First arm 104 comprisesa first end portion 106 having a cavity 108 adapted to securely receivefirst end portion 120 of central body 118. First arm 106 furthercomprises a second end portion 110 comprising protrusions 112. Secondarm 124 comprises a first end portion 126 having a cavity 128 adapted tosecurely receive second end portion 122 of central body 118. Second arm124 further comprises a second end portion 130 comprising protrusions132. First and second arms 106 and 124 are made from plastic or anyother conventional material and fabricated by conventional methods suchas injection molding.

Device 100 further comprises a first cleaning member 134 engaged orconnected with first end portion 110 of first arm 106. First cleaningmember 134 has a plurality of mounting holes 136 adapted to receiveprotrusions 112 of first end portion 110 of first arm 106. Device 100further comprises a second cleaning member 138 engaged or connected withend portion 130 of second arm 124. Second cleaning member 138 has aplurality of mounting holes 140 adapted to receive protrusions 132 ofsecond end portion 130 of second arm 124. First cleaning member 134substantially faces second cleaning member 138. In the shown embodimentshown, each of first and second cleaning members 134 and 138 is a spongebrush. A wide variety of other types of cleaning members may be usedsuch as a bristle brush, or a fabric mesh brush. First cleaning member134 may be one type of cleaning member, such as a fabric mesh brush,while second cleaning member 138 may be a different type of cleaningmember such as a bristle brush. Although not shown, one or more grippingmembers, such as cushions, could be attached to central portion 118 ofbody 102 to allow a person to grip and manipulate device 100.

Referring to FIG. 5 , where a personal hygiene device 200 according to athird embodiment of the present invention is shown that may be used by aperson to wash, clean and/or scrub two areas of the person's body at thesame time such as the stomach and back area or a single area if desired.In the embodiment shown, device 200 generally comprises a body 202comprising a first arm portion 204, a central body portion 206, and asecond arm portion 208. First and second arm portions 204 and 208 extendoutward from central body portion 206 in a substantially u-shapedmanner. First arm portion 204 is moveable or flexible relative to secondarm portion 208. First arm portion 204 is spaced apart from second armportion 208 so body 202 can fit substantially about the stomach area ofa person. First arm portion 204 has an end portion 210 (not shown).Second arm portion 208 has an end portion 212 (not shown). Body 12 maybe made from one or more pieces and from a variety of materials. In theembodiment shown, body 202 is a single tube made from plastic that maybe fabricated by conventional processes. Device 200 further comprises afirst cleaning member 214 engaged or connected with end portion 210 (notshown) of first arm portion 204. Device 200 further comprises a secondcleaning member 216 engaged or connected with end portion 212 (notshown) of second arm portion 208. First cleaning member 214substantially faces second cleaning member 216. In the shown embodimentshown, each of first and second cleaning members 214 and 216 are madefrom a fabric sheet wrapped around end portions 210 and 212respectively, to form a fabric mesh. Each of end portions 210 and 212may have an opening for the fabric sheet to pass thru and be secured byconventional means such as a knot or adhesive.

Devices 10, 100 and 200 according to the present invention providessignificant advantages over conventional devices. By way of example,devices 10 and 100 provide easier mobility to wash different part's of aperson's the same time such as back and stomach, legs, and neck.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the sprit and scopeof the claimed invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A personal hygiene device for use by a person havinga stomach area and a back area, comprising: a body comprising a firstarm portion, a central body portion, and a second arm portion; saidfirst and second arm portions extending outward from said central bodyportion; said first arm portion being spaced apart from said second armportion sized and configured for fitting about a portion of the stomacharea and back area of the person; each of said first and second armportions comprise an end portion; a first cleaning member engaged withsaid end portion of said first arm portion; and a second cleaning memberengaged with said end portion of said second arm portion; said secondcleaning member substantially facing said first cleaning member.
 2. Thepersonal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said first arm portion isflexible relative to said second arm portion.
 3. The personal hygienedevice of claim 1, wherein said central body portion and said first andsecond end portions are made from a single piece of material.
 4. Thepersonal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said first cleaning memberis a brush having bristles.
 5. The personal hygiene device of claim 4,wherein said second cleaning member is a brush having bristles.
 6. Thepersonal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said first cleaning memberis a sponge.
 7. The personal hygiene device of claim 6, wherein saidsecond cleaning member is a sponge.
 8. The personal hygiene device ofclaim 1, wherein said first cleaning member is a fabric mesh.
 9. Thepersonal hygiene device of claim 8, wherein said second cleaning memberis a fabric mesh.